I originally wrote this DIY tutorial for Mother’s Day this year, but you could make these letters all year round, and will also make a great Christmas present.

Using vintage plates and cups that have been chipped or cracked, you can create a lovely gift which they can display on a dressing table, mantelpiece or by hanging on a feature wall. These are fun to make and would look great made from their favourite china that is no longer good enough to use.

Top Tip:

Alternate mosaic letters with ones covered in vintage fabric or off-cuts of wallpaper to create contrast.

Materials:

Wooden or cardboard letters which can be bought from craft shops

Vintage china which is chipped or cracked.

PVA glue

Tile adhesive and grout

Picture hanging D hooks to hang

Paint

Equipment:

Tile cutters or small hammer

Paintbrush

Tile adhesive comb or spatula

Safety glasses

Fine sandpaper

Step One:

Apply PVA glue to one side of the letter so the tile adhesive sticks better. Leave to dry.

Step Two:

Using the tile cutter or a hammer, break the ceramics into small pieces. Ensure you protect your eyes from splintering china. The broken pieces should be of various sizes and shapes with as much colour on each one as possible.

Step Three:

Apply the tile adhesive slowly onto small sections of the letter and start to apply the broken ceramic, remembering to leave small gaps for the grout. I have chosen to edge the letter in the edging from the plate to give definition to the sides. Don’t cover the whole letter with adhesive in one go as it will take time to choose the pieces you want and you don’t want it to dry out. When fully covered, leave to dry, until each piece is firmly stuck.

Step Four:

When dry, apply the grout over the whole area and leave for a few minutes to settle. Then, wipe the excess off with a damp cloth. Be careful not to get the area too wet especially if the letter is made from cardboard.

Step Five:

Prepare the sides by gently sanding any excess grout with fine sandpaper. Paint the sides and back with paint and leave to dry. If you want the letters to hang on a wall, fix picture hanging D rings to the back.

To make wallpaper letters, simply draw around the letter onto the back of the paper and carefully cut out. This can then be glued using the PVA to the front of the letter.

Kate x

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Kate Beavis is a vintage expert, writer, event organiser and blogger. Her book Style Your Modern Vintage Home was published in 2013 and is a guide to buying, styling and restoring vintage from 1920s-1990s. Her blog launched in 2010 and was a finalist in 2015 Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. She has written for and appeared in multiple newspapers and magazines such as Vintage Life, Reloved, The Metro, The Lady, Huffington Post and Wedding Ideas and her home has been featured in magazines such as Homestyle, Pschologies and Inside Crochet. Her TV appearances include This Morning, Channel 4 News and ITV's Lorraine. She is also the director of the original and award winning Magpie Wedding. After a 20 year career in retail she also helps mentor small businesses, sharing her knowledge in workshops, events and online. September 30, 2015